Milan, July 16 (LaPresse) – “The 2026 Invalsi data tell us something simple and wonderful: over 520,000 students who were at risk of dropping out of school did not do so. The school dropout rate was 11.5% in 2022. Today it stands at 7.3%. We have surpassed, years ahead of schedule, the EU’s 9% target for 2030 and are ahead of Spain (12.8%) and Germany (13.1%).” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote this on Facebook. “But we haven’t lowered the bar to keep more students in school: the number of students graduating without adequate skills is falling, and the number of high achievers is rising. The tools we’ve developed are working,” she adds, “including teacher mentors, the Southern Italy Agenda, the Summer Plan, the Caivano Decree, and investments in digital education and STEM. The South is catching up, and the gaps are narrowing.” “Weaknesses remain in elementary school, both in Italy and abroad. This is exactly what the new National Guidelines address: more reading, grammar, and syntax; a revolution in math; and pen and paper where needed. The work isn’t finished. But we’re heading in the right direction. To those who thought about giving up but didn’t: you are today’s best news,” the prime minister concludes.
Education, Meloni: “We’ve Exceeded the EU Target on Dropout Rates, but the Work Isn’t Done”
Milan, July 16 (LaPresse) – “The 2026 Invalsi data tell us something simple and wonderful: over 520,000 students who were at risk of dropping out of school did not do so. The school dropout rate was 11.5% in 2022. Today it stands at 7.3%. We have surpassed, years ahead of schedule, the EU’s 9% target for 2030 and are ahead of Spain (12.8%) and Germany (13.1%).” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote this on Facebook. “But we haven’t lowered the bar to keep more students in school: the number of students graduating without adequate skills is falling, and the number of high achievers is rising. The tools we’ve developed are working,” she adds, “including teacher mentors, the Southern Italy Agenda, the Summer Plan, the Caivano Decree, and investments in digital education and STEM. The South is catching up, and the gaps are narrowing.” “Weaknesses remain in elementary school, both in Italy and abroad. This is exactly what the new National Guidelines address: more reading, grammar, and syntax; a revolution in math; and pen and paper where needed. The work isn’t finished. But we’re heading in the right direction. To those who thought about giving up but didn’t: you are today’s best news,” the prime minister concludes.
